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Tube Fly: Jerry's Arctic Fox Wiggler

Here is a simple new baitfish pattern that can be used for bass, steelhead and salmon! This pattern was created by Jerry Darkes.

Getting Started: A 
17mm 
Ballhead 
tube is 
the 
tying 
platfortm 
for
 this 
fly.

Step #1: Prepare
 the 
tube 
by 
inserting the plastic liner tube and melting both ends to hold it in place. Then slide on the junction tube.


Step #2: Slide
 the 
tube 
on to the 
pin 
or 
mandrel 
to 
hold 
it 
in 
place 
so 
it 
will 
not
 rotate. 

Here 
the 
Eumer 
Adapter 
is 
being 
used. 

Start 
the 
thread 
on 
the
 junction 
tube 
where 
it 
extends 
over 
the 
body.

Step #3: Tie 
down 
a 
section 
of 
Arctic 
fox 
tail 
fur 
so 
that 
it 
extends 
several 
inches past 
the end 
of 
the 
junction tube. 

Trim 
any 
excess 
fur 
sticking 
out 
to 
the front.

Step #4: Take 
3‐4
 strands 
of 
flash 
twice 
as 
long 
as 
the 
tail 
and 
tie 
down 
in 
the middle 
on 
top 
of 
the 
tail. 

Then fold 
back 
and 
tie 
down 
ago 
to 
lock flash 
in 
position. 

My favorite 
flash 
is 
Krinkle 
Mirror 
Flash 
from 
Cascade Crest. 

It 
has 
a 
very fishy 
look 
in
 the 
water.


Step #5: Tie 
in 
a 
short 
length 
of 
Estaz 
and 
wind 
forward 
leaving 
some 
room 
behind
 the 
ball, 
then
 tie 
off 
and 
trim.

Step #6: Tie 
in 
a 
schlappen 
hackle 
by 
the 
butt 
end 
and 
wrap 
forward 
4 times,
 making
 sure 
each 
wrap
 is 
in 
front 
of 
the 
previous 
one,
 then tie off and trim.

Step #7: Tie
 in 
a 
short 
length 
of 

Palmer 
Chenille 
and 
make 
4 
wraps 
forward
 making 
sure that 
each 
wrap 
is 
in 
front 
of 
the 
other 
and
 the 
material 
does
 not 
twist. 


Then tie off, 
trim, 
make 
a 
neat 
thread 
wrap 
and 
whip 
finish
 the 
thread.

The Completed Arctic Fox Wiggler: This 
fly 
comes 
to
 life 
in 
the 
water! 

The 
Ballhead 
tube 
has 
a 
natural 
wiggle
 to
 it 
when 
stripped 
or 
swung 
in 
current. 

The 
fox 
tail 
breathes 
and 
the

 schlappen 
fibers 
pulsate
 from 
being 
held 
up 
by 
the 
Estaz.




An Assortment of Arctic Fox Wigglers: The 
first 
one 
I 
tied 
had 

a 
chartreuse 
tail, 
red 
Estaz 
body, 
red 
schlappen and
 pearl 
palmer 
chenille. 

I’m 
sure
 all 
baitfish 
colors will 
be 
productive
 along 
with 
a 
variety 
of 
darker 
colors.




Setting Up With a Stringer Hook: Run 

the tippet 
through 
the 
tube 
and 
through the 
eye 
of 
the 
hook 
(a
 Daiichi 
1640 
#2 
is 
shown). Tie 
a 
over hand 
loop. 

The 
size 
of 
the 
loop
 determines 
how 
far 
back 
the 
hook 
will 
ride. 

Don’t 
fish 
lighter 
than 
10
lb. tippet.







Ready to Fish! : Pull 
the 
leader 
and 
seat 
the 
knot 
from 
the
 loop 
inside 
the 
liner.

 Depending 
on 
the
 size 
tippet 
used, 
you 
may 
need 
a
 double 
knot to
 seat
 inside 
the 
liner. 

Keep the 
fly 
moving 
fast 
when 
you 
are
 stripping 
it.







A Satisfied Customer : Here’s 
one 
of 
several 
nice 
trout 
that 
hit 
the 
Arctic 
Wiggler during 
a 
recent
 test 
session.



The 
R
&
D 
on 
this 
pattern 
will continue 
in 
a 
wide 
range 
of
 colors 
for a 
variety 
of 
species. 

Stay
 tuned!